Pope and Macron hold ‘intense’ meeting at Vatican

French President Emmanuel Macron held an “intense” meeting with Pope Francis during his first official visit to the Vatican yesterday (26 June), discussing global issues including the fate of migrants coming to Europe.

The tete-a-tete between the Argentine pontiff and Macron in the Vatican’s ornate library lasted 57 minutes — the longest between Francis and a head of state.

They also discussed secularism, inter-religious dialogue and climate change, the French presidency said in a statement that described a “very free and very intense exchange”.

Macron’s visit with the pope, who has called for “solidarity” with migrants, came as the thorny issue of migration casts deep divisions within the European Union.

After the meeting, Macron said France will be one of six European countries to take in some of the 233 migrants on board the NGO rescue ship Lifeline, which has been stranded for days in the Mediterranean after being turned away by Italy.

The French president earlier had breakfast with Rome’s Community of Sant’Egidio — a charity with ties to the Vatican that plays a role in welcoming migrants, and organising “humanitarian corridors” bringing Syrian refugees to Europe.

The programme, which is open to vulnerable Muslims and Christians alike, is an alternative to dangerous smuggling routes.

‘Truly moved’

After his meeting with Francis, Macron attended a ceremony where he was made an honorary canon of St John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome.

VIDEO: French President Emmanuel Macron meets Pope Francis in Vatican City as he is to be named First and Only Honorary Canon of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the Pope’s cathedral in Rome pic.twitter.com/yTGqvxx0MT

The tradition dates back to the 15th century when the French state and church were indistinguishable.

The French president said he was “truly moved” by the honour in a speech.

Several of Macron’s predecessors declined to go to the Vatican to accept the title, including socialists François Mitterrand and François Hollande, in order to avoid associating themselves with religious imagery.

Macron’s decision to attend the ceremony has drawn criticism in France, which is strictly secular under a landmark 1905 law that separated the state from the church.

After the meeting, Macron said he had met with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Monday evening, but kept the informal talk discreet out of respect for Vatican protocol.

The two leaders held a long meeting to discuss the contentious issue of migrants ahead of a European summit in Brussels at a restaurant in Rome, Italian media said Tuesday, citing government sources. A spokesman for Conte confirmed to AFP that the meeting had taken place but did not give details.

Past talks between the pope and a president have never exceeded 50 minutes — Francis spoke with former US president Barack Obama for 50 minutes and with his successor Donald Trump for 30 minutes.